thinking about buying IS300 want opinions

PIKAPP58 · Lexus Owner Joined: Jul 20, 2005 Posts: 2

is it worth the purchase? I want a used 2003-2004 IS300 5-speed. Live in Houston TX and drive a lot.... other cars considering are BMW 3 series and Acura TSX.

Jules · Lexus Owner Joined: Jul 10, 2005 Posts: 9

Just got my '05 IS and love it.
The TSX is nice- I had an acura rsx and had hardly any problems. It was super easy to maintain. But for a few more $K I decided the IS was for me. Never considered BMW-too many out there. Good luck!

Benjamminz_IS

texpilot · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:58 am Post subject: I love mine!

I had a 2002 BMW 325i for 3 years -- after someone hit me, it just never seemed the same again. So I looked into getting a new car and drove a LOT of them. My BMW had an auto tranny, but that was a HUGE mistake. I found myself loving driving my Miata more than the BMW -- not what I fancied after dreaming of owning a BMW since being a kid.

I finally settled on the IS300 with no regrets. I ordered it to get exactly what I wanted, and I paid $29,750 for it. I am SO GLAD I did, as the new 2006 model may seem nice at first, but at this time the IS350 doesn't come in a manual transmission! I absolutely had to have a manual tranny after yawning myself to death in my BMW auto ...

My 2005 IS300 has the full leather package (the Alcantara is nice to grip your butt in place during heavy cornering, but my Dad has a 2001 and after 4 years the Alcantara has worn significantly, especially where your belt is), heated seats, and 11-spoke rims (cooler than the default 5-spoke and no extra cost). Other than the spoiler, that's my baby -- with the 5-speed manual transmission.

Now that I've found the Denison ice-Link iPod integration kit (yet to finalize my purchase decision), I think I'm in heaven. But even if my iPod integration is forced to the manual hard-wire method, I'm still in heaven as I absolutely love driving my IS300. This year we bought a new house -- instead of being 4 miles away from work, I'm 18 miles away and I don't mind it at all when I'm driving my IS300!

No reliability issues whatsoever, but then I've only had it 9 months. But on my BMW, the oxygen sensor went out twice, as did the front left wheel bearing (though I think that was from a car wash -- where the dude drives your car around for you and into the contraption -- never again, I hand-wash my war myself now!). Of course, with the BMW service plan, both of those items were covered at no cost.

SO: that is my long-winded method of saying GO FOR IT, the IS300 rocks!

raiderfan94536 · Lexus Owner Joined: Jan 22, 2008 Posts: 10

I'm thinking about buying a 2003 IS300. I totally agree, automatic transmissions are VERY boring. I'm go to get a manual IS300. They are slightly lighter and get about a mpg more than the automatic on the streets and get about 2 mpg on the highway. Go with a manual.